Liposuction is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world. It’s been around in various forms for over 40 years, and its popularity has endured because of its ability to safely and predictably reshape problem areas all over the body. Dr. MacLennan has decades of experience with liposuction, both by itself and in combination with other procedures such as breast reduction, tummy tuck, and Mommy Makeover.
What is Liposuction all about?
It’s important to know that liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure. The best candidates are of normal or slightly above-normal weight and have areas that haven’t responded to diet and exercise. We often hear “I have my mother’s thighs,” or “I have my grandmother’s hips.” It’s hard to “spot-reduce” and these women may turn to liposuction to address their problem areas. Liposuction can help clothing fit better and improve how a woman feels about her body shape, balancing proportion and restoring confidence.
How is Liposuction Done?
Dr. MacLennan offers “tumescent” or suction-assisted liposuction (“SAL”). While you may have heard about several other types of liposuction, the idea is similar. The problem areas are injected with a solution that contains lidocaine to numb the tissue and epinephrine to minimize bleeding. A long narrow instrument called a cannula is used to loosen the fat, and suction is applied to remove the fat from the targeted areas. Liposuction can be very effective in certain areas of the body, particularly the lower abdomen, hips, “bra rolls”, outer thighs, and upper arms. While we don’t currently offer ultrasound-assisted (UAL) or Vaser, these are other liposuction techniques you may have heard about that can be equally effective in experienced hands. Safety is of primary importance, so we’ll ensure that your chosen procedure is likely to meet your goals with a very low risk of complications.
Who is a Good Candidate?
The best candidates for liposuction are those who are close to their ideal body weight or only mildly overweight, but have areas such as the abdomen, outer thighs (“saddlebags”), or hips (“love handles” or “muffin top”) that are out of proportion to other areas. It’s also important to have realistic expectations about results. Not everyone is the right candidate. When you have loose skin, stretch marks, or an overhang of your lower abdomen, you may be a better candidate for a tummy tuck in order to remove some of the extra skin. Likewise, if your inner thighs have loose skin and stretch marks, liposuction may not be able to give you the tightened result you’re hoping for. Dr. MacLennan will look at all of your areas of concern during your consultation and give you an honest recommendation based on her experience.
What is Recovery Like?
Liposuction is a safe, effective procedure with a relatively short recovery time. Most liposuction procedures are done under general anesthesia, as an outpatient so you can go home later the same day. The incisions are very small, but there can be significant bruising and you may be quite sore for a week or more. Most of our patients take about a week off work and regular activities, but recovery time may be longer or shorter, depending upon which areas are treated. Most liposuction patients will also wear a compression garment (similar to Spanx) for about 4 weeks after surgery to help manage the swelling. You can get back to regular activities quite quickly after liposuction, since the incisions are less than 1cm each and the risk of complications is very low.
Dr. MacLennan was fantastic. She made me feel very comfortable and informed. She was always pleasant and happy to answer any and all questions I had before, during and after my surgery. I'd highly recommend her.
FAQs
Am I A Good Candidate For Liposuction?
I Have Cellulite On My Thighs. Will Liposuction Help?
Where Is Liposuction Performed?
Does Liposuction Treat Stretch Marks?
What Are The Medical Risks?
Are There Cosmetic Risks?
Can Fat Return After Liposuction?
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